Sinclair Meadows, the UK’s first carbon negative social housing development won the ‘Innovation’ category at the Constructing Excellence Awards, during a ceremony held at The Tower, London.
The scheme, located in South Shields, is home to one of the largest collections of solar panels on domestic dwellings in the UK. The roofs of the 21 affordable homes are decked with 85 kW PV array solar panels, which reduce demand on traditional energy resources and export any excess energy back to the grid.
Commenting on the award win, Dawn Keightley, group director of operations at Four Housing, said: “Sinclair Meadows began as one person’s idea and then became the aspiration of an organisation. Through extensive research and partnership working, a concept was developed that could physically be delivered without impacting the usability of the homes.
“At the outset the intention was to design and construct an exemplary sustainable and affordable housing community that was carbon negative in energy use. Through the use of innovative design principles and renewable energy technologies, the project realised its aim to reduce carbon emissions.”
Sinclair Meadows has already won the Most Innovative Renewable Technology category at the 2013 Housing Innovation Awards and been short listed in the Construction category of the 2013 Sustain Magazine Awards.